thursdaysd

Ooops, the mind can play tricks. When I typed my last post I had an image in my mind of pulling my case down an airplane aisle, but when I though it about it more I remembered (haven't flown lately) that I always check my two wheeler and just carry my day pack on. The aisles I tow it down are on trains. However, I measured my bag, and then checked the aisle width. My bag is 14 inches wide and in the US the relevant FAA regulation (Sec. 25.815) requires planes with 20 or more passengers to have a minimum aisle width of 15 inches. I thought that other countries required smaller carry-ons, but this says otherwise: https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/ai...ge-size-chart/

mlgb

It's usually the problem in countries using metric. For example Air France is pretty standard for European at 21.7 in (55 cm) x 13.8 in (35 cm) x 9.9 in (25 cm) . There are a few which reduce the width to 20 cm (7.9 inches!) which is ridiculous.

If the agent doesn't like you and makes you put your wheelie in the sizer you will fail, as happened to a friend on an Air Canada flight we took back from Vancouver. Of course when we got to the waiting area there were plenty of bags just as large as the one she was forced to pay the checked bag fee on.

janisj

Anything other than an executive jet sized plane will have aisles between 16 and nearly 20 inches wide in coach. Was on one Allegiant flight (never again) that may have had a 15 inch aisle - I know it was pretty tight. But even Vueling and easyJet have aisles wide enough that any wheeled carryon easily rolls

mlgb

Lots of regional carriers in South America have narrow aisles.

No worries if you're only going on major international carriers and don't have a seat in the back of the plane.

girlonthego

We have two AWAY brand international carry on sized suitcases, hardside and spinners that our kids bought us for Christmas. They are very nice and held up really well on the one trip we have been able to use them in the last two years, lol. I like them but I would have probably bought the one that is the American sized carry on because it would have given me just that little bit of extra room.
We have two 24 inch hardside London Fogs we got on sale at Macys that hold quite a lot and they make a good checked bag for a longer trip.
I have always liked travelpro brand and have a few of their 21-22 inch carryons in soft side version. I have had them for years and they hold up very well.

I personally love spinners. No dragging suitcases. The spinners glide next to you and don't tip over as easily as the 2 wheeled. I like lightweight and usually always look to see what they weight before I buy. I also think for checking a bag, the hardside will hold up longer and they are made very lightweight.
I would travel everywhere with a 22 inch suitcase carry on, but some trips are just a little long for that. We have a 15day trip overseas coming up in October if everything is opened and ready for us to go. We are on a tour and will be moving from hotel to hotel. I might just check a 24 inch to go with us to hold some extra stuff.

dreamon

If your bag is within the regulation size for your airline and the aisle was too narrow, wouldn't you just pick it up and carry it? Not sure I see this as a significant problem.

When travelling internationally, I check my bag in the plane hold as it's always over the 7kg weight limit (and we're supposed to have only one bag). I don't see checking my bag as a problem and in fact I get really grumpy when some people take up the entire plane locker space with their over limit luggage.

For land travel, I try to make sure my bag is of a weight that I can fairly easily carry it up and down stairs. If I can sling it into the overhead luggage rack on trains, well that feels great.

mlgb

Hell of a lot easier, faster and safer to the seated passengers to push it.
I hate nothing more than passengers swinging their stuffed to the gills backpacks at face level down the aisle.

Airline crew are not helping passengers load the overhead bins at the moment. COVID rules, I think. A good test is to see if you can lift your bag as high as the top of your refrigerator. I put the heavier stuff in the underseat bag.

I have not had a problem staying under the weight limits with that small roller bag.

devops7954

+1 for two wheelers

Trophywife007

One thing you might think about is the metal bars that you'll need to work around. On the Briggs and Riley, they are outside so you have a flat packing surface. For Victorinox and Tumi (last time I checked) they are inside so you have to work around the "lumps" they make inside. That may make a difference for some people.

suze

will be moving from hotel to hotel.

That IS the time to pack light. I check a 24" but I'm going to only one place and staying in the same apartment for the entire time.

Macross

I read all the advice we have not used thread and I now say buy the biggest suitcase you want. Those big Delsey hard side cases would be perfect. Get a bright color strap to go around it in case it pops the locks which they have a tendency to do. Go to the saran wrap guy at the check-in counters and have it wrapped. I always wonder how many of those saran wrapped bags get sliced open. Make sure the rental car has a big trunk and if using the train try and get the bottom seat compartment, the upper seat compartment has a narrow stair. If you get a fastback park in a safe location as your big suitcase is very hard to hide.

As Zebec would say, over and out.

RM67

Are the people who don’t realise a four wheeled case automatically becomes a two wheeled case when you pull it along the same ones who don’t realise the hoses on a petrol pump reach round either side of the car??

In answer to the OP, I’d just go for another Samsonite - but a hard-sided one this time. It’ll almost certainly be lighter than the other brands you’ve outlined which I think are priced extortionately and a magnet for thieves. I’m currently using a Muji case which is teeny (19 litres). No matter how stuffed it is, I can easily lift it above head height. The only downside is it has a key lock rather than a combo, but the compact size and lockeable wheels compensate for that imo.

mlgb

To the OP, I like the polycarbonate clamshells for strength and durability. Better than cloth. The cloth bags I've had get stained and torn up eventually. The weak points are typically zippers and wheels but so far I've been lucky with my old Heys one.

I prefer a smaller bag and when I've traveled with a larger one I tend to bring too much crap I never use. I also like the two even sides on the clam shells, makes it easier to sort clean clothes on one side and need to wash on the other. I never have a problem with the rails inside the case, socks and other things fill in the hollows. I like a bag with a variety of mesh pockets built in rather than resorting packing cubes.